St. George's residents came to a stranded Polish sailor's aide after his yacht Lucyfer ran aground at Cooper's Island.

Hobby photographer Kenneth Byron said he was out taking pictures when he stumbled across the 53-year-old solo sailor in distress on Monday.

"I go over to Cooper's Island often to get nature pictures. I just happened to see the sails over by the rocks," Mr. Byron said.

He said he approached the yacht which was caught on the rocks and tried to assist the man, but there was a language barrier.

"I tried to talk to him but he was Polish and spoke no English. He was very disoriented," Mr. Byron said. "Harbour Radio was called and while we were waiting for help one of the employees from Tavern by the Sea who spoke Polish talked to him.

"He said that he had been at sea for three weeks and the last two weeks he ran out of food and had only water to survive on."

Mr. Byron said that a few St. George's residents brought the Açores bound traveller clothes, one man took him to his house to shower and another allowed him to sleep on his boat.

A duty officer at Bermuda Maritime Operations said the sailor who travelled from the British Virgin Island, Tortola, had sustained no injuries. He said his yacht is currently moored at Ordnance Island and they are awaiting an interpreter